Qantas now flies direct from Auckland to the Gold Coast three times a week. Alyse Wright joined the inaugural flight in its business class cabin to see what it’s like.
Visas and requirements:
New Zealand citizens can travel visa-free to Australia with their New Zealand passport. Other visa holders can find more details on visa requirements on the Australian Immigration website.
Departure airport experience:
Upon arrival at check-in, there were plenty of Qantas staff on hand and willing to help. But the kiosk system most are now accustomed to, made the check-in and bag drop quick and easy.
Customs was a breeze thanks to express lane privileges. The usual electronic passport check issues caused slight holdups, but nothing compared to the normal customs queues, which also seemed to be flowing steadily.
As this flight departs at 11.05 am, duty-free, shops and cafes were all open and buzzing with business as I headed towards the Qantas lounge - just one of the perks of a business class ticket.
The elegant and classy space, which includes a few nods to New Zealand within its styling, such as the live green walls and artworks featuring New Zealand scenery. It is the perfect spot to refresh and relax before or in between flights.
I was lucky enough to experience breakfast in the Platinum lounge, which is available to Platinum and Platinum One members. They offer a seasonal a la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a variety of tasty food and plenty of beverage options from coffee to champagne.
Qantas knows how to celebrate an inaugural flight. Putting on a small celebration with a selection of canapes and drinks available for all passengers at the gate. The real success, however, was the flight departing 10 minutes early.
Seat:
Qantas is the only carrier that offers premium economy and business class seats on the direct to Gold Coast route.
Twelve comfy and spacious cradle recliner seats in a two-two configuration make up the business class cabin. With ample leg room, the seats alone make a three-hour flight feel more like one hour.
I was seated in 1A, getting premium views of the Gold Coast as we came into land and the unbeatable feeling of being able to exit the plane first.
Crew:
Our cabin crew were just as friendly and helpful as those on the ground. One main crew member, Todd, looked after our cabin. What stood out to me was that he showed a genuine interest in what brought everyone on the flight and our holiday plans. He also had great knowledge of the flight route and the food and beverages on offer.
Passengers:
Although the flight wasn’t sold out, it was relatively full. A mixture of passengers, from young families to retired couples, were all excited to be the first to experience Qantas’ newest route.
Food and drink:
Lunch was fresh and packed full of flavour. The small Spanish roasted vegetable salad was the perfect size for a light starter.
There was a choice between grilled lemongrass chicken served with fried rice or baked pasta with eggplant, sauteed zucchini and slow-roasted tomatoes for the main. I chose the pasta bake as I usually prefer a lighter option when it comes to plane food.
A slice of sourdough, crackers and cheese accompanied the main and a Whittaker’s chocolate bar and Kāpiti salted caramel ice cream were served to finish.
Australian wines, spirits and beers, as well as the usual non-alcoholic and hot beverage options, made up the drinks selection.
Entertainment:
The entertainment console has a range of TV shows and movies, both old and new, that cater to a variety of ages. Some programming options displayed are only available to watch via the Qantas entertainment app. A QR code directs you to the downloadable app if you were really sold on watching something not available on the console.
Over-the-ear headphones are provided, meaning no need for your own unless you are using the entertainment app.
Free Wi-Fi is available on board, which was reliable with a steady speed.
Arrival airport experience:
I don’t think I have ever experienced an empty customs area until stepping foot into the Gold Coast Airport.
It is a smaller airport, meaning no queues and fast baggage collection. Pairing that with the electronic customs system and only a small duty-free store to be distracted by made for a fast entry into Australia.
Transfers to other airports are just as quick and easy with the domestic terminal located right beside international arrivals.
The best bit:
The later departure time means a slower start to the day than you would usually experience for an Australia-bound flight. Plus, there’s the bonus of being able to check in and settle into your hotel straight away upon arrival.
The worst bit:
If I had to be picky, the entertainment experience could do with some improvement. Being redirected to a separate device for some programming options is slightly annoying, especially if you haven’t pre-downloaded the required app.
Final verdict:
With a leisurely departure time and the offering of business class and premium economy seats, Qantas has given other airlines flying the same route a run for their money with the introduction of this flight.